The controversial Parq Vancouver faced nearly a decade of consultation before shovels hit the ground and now the red-orange behemoth adjacent to BC Place stadium is one of downtown Vancouver’s largest multi-purpose venues.
Because of its size, venue style and the City of Vancouver’s plan to introduce more casino space into what is deemed the future heart of the city’s “entertainment district,” Parq faced push-back from developers and city officials.
But the casino resort has provided more of what Vancouver needs: hotel space for convention visitors and the city’s growing tourism industry.
More than 10.3 million people visited Vancouver in 2017, the most overnight visits in the city’s history. Approximately 12,000 rooms are available in the downtown core, but short-term rentals sourced through Airbnb are eroding hotel-business bottom lines and condo development is displacing real estate that could be used for new hotels.
“Our hotel growth is not keeping pace, and we are fighting to keep hotels and, in some cases, not winning,” said Tourism Vancouver president Ty Speer. “It will be hard to grow visitor demand here if we aren’t growing hotel supply at the same time.”
At least 517 rooms are available at Parq, which also has 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space, and Vancouver’s largest hotel ballroom.
Parq declined to provide financial details from its first year in operation, but Narinder Nagra, Parq Vancouver’s director of resort marketing, said the venue was “pleased” with the initial financial results and the events it has secured.
“Since opening in September 2017, we have hosted and played partner to a number of hugely successful events in the city, including the David Foster Miracle Gala and Concert and the 2018 Junos, hosted by Michael Bublé,” said Nagra. “We have also hosted many local events such as the Vancouver Where to Dine Awards and the Dine Out Vancouver Festival 2018 at a couple of our culinary outlets.”
However, with such a significant amount of space available, Parq is looking to expand its number of hosted events and has hired what Nagra said is a manager to spearhead local events.
“We are passionate about working with local brands and championing the city’s local arts community,” Nagra said.
Meanwhile, Vancouver City council is considering converting the nearby Enterprise Hall Building, formerly the Edgewater Casino at the Plaza of Nations, into an indoor convention space until the multi-phased Plaza of Nations redevelopment acquires what is left of the venue.
“The area has long been envisioned to become an active waterfront district, and, as it grows, it will be built to accommodate major events, more restaurants and entertainment,” said Holly Sovdi, the city’s senior planner for the Northeast False Creek Project.
Sovdi added that Northeast False Creek is one of the largest undeveloped areas in downtown Vancouver.
“[The area] is already a hub of sports, culture and events venues, including BC Place stadium, Rogers Arena and the Plaza of Nations,” said Sovdi. “People who come to Northeast False Creek will be part of a vibrant, connected new neighbourhood that will be close to jobs, new cultural, social and recreational amenities, a wide range of services, as well as other great Vancouver neighbourhoods.”
The redevelopment planned for the former Plaza of Nations space has been approved and will become Vancouver’s newest seaside community – and Parq is at the forefront of it all.
“The False Creek area is an exciting community of Vancouver as it is the city’s ‘active waterfront,’” said Nagra, “and we look forward to continued development within False Creek.”
